San Antonio Missions, December 29th, 2006
San Francisco de los Espada founded in 1731
Lloyd & Andy enter Espada from the parking lot
Espada parochial school rebuilt in 1932
Remains of outer wall residences
More outer wall remains, this one has a fireplace
Settlers hunkered down in the chapel during danger
Originally just a sacristy (priest preparation room)
but has been Espada's sanctuary for over 200 years
Notice the unusual broken arch over the doorway
Friary once had two floors, and a baptism today
Granary that housed a larger church from 1773-1776
Conclude the inner wall tour back at the parking lot
Travel down the road to the Espada Aqueduct
. . . the oldest spanish aquaduct (1745) in the US
Water is carried over Piedras Creek via a . . .
Gravity flow ditch system known as acequias
Aquaducts ensured a continual flow of river water
. . . diverted into an acequia madre (mother ditch)
Mission San Juan Capistrano, established 1731
Enter the San Juan grounds from the parking lot
The granary was converted into the sanctuary of the San Juan Mission when construction of the permanent church was halted in 1786
The bells of San Juan Capistrano
No weddings or baptisms today
The sun begins to set on our visiting time
The reconstructed rectory is now a private residence
Empty crucifix guarded by a large cactus
Post colonial house (1850) and unfinished church
The unfinished (1772-1786) permanent church
Finished and unfinished churches
Follow the sun for the best photos
Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aquayo
The Queen of Missions, founded in 1720
Enter the mission through the restored walls
The 2nd church was constructed 1768-1782
Limestone with a tower and two domes
The intricately carved Rose window
The elaborate Baroque facade of the sanctuary
The imposing walls discouraged enemy attacks
Arching interior within the outer wall buildings
A wedding underway prevented interior photos
Closeup of the elaborate Baroque facade
The tower and one dome visible from this angle
Coahuiltecan Indians were taught Catholicism here
Lloyd and Andy check out a sealed well
Restored quarters for the native inhabitants
Cactus growing on a corner roof
Nice side shot of tower, dome, and a full tree
The walls were restored during the Depression
Could the second dome be on the outer wall?
Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion
The church was constructed from 1740-1755
The church remains in essentially original condition
The oldest unreconstructed stone church in the US
A fine example of Spanish Colonial architecture
Intricate Renaissance details complement . . .
. . . Romanesque forms and gothic arches
No weddings or baptisms today at Concepcion
Arched ceilings in the outer wall buildings
250 year old original interior paintings remain
Statue of Mary out in Concepcion's courtyard
Finally, the Alamo, and the Emily Morgan Hotel
AKA, Mission San Antonio de Valero, founded 1718
The Alamo's elaborate courtyard lighting is not . . .
representative of the historic missionary period